When I moved up North in 2005 my first abode was in a flat above a pub called The Dolly Peel on Commercial Road in South Shields. I lived there a year or so before moving in with Phil in Gateshead and Shields is still my favourite place to go with a camera. There are lots of nice bits, the coast with it’s ‘internationally famous’ magnesian limestone coastline, Souter Lighthouse, Marsden Rocks, Arbeia Roman Fort, interesting historical architecture and all sorts of outdoor artworks. I’ve photographed a lot of it, but mostly in digital, so I’m starting over with film. The town centre was not doing so well. Like a lot of seaside towns it’s gradually declined (in line with the country as a whole) but now the Council is redeveloping it and knocking down old empty shops and replacing them with a college campus including a new public square, gardens and green spaces. They’re using some of the ones they don’t knock down for introducing a food hall or indoor market space. Apparently this is all being done with the input of the local people after 1000 residents answered a survey asking them what they want. So things will change, and hopefully I’ll get to shoot them when they happen.
On this outing I Walked up King Street, which is the main retail street, to the Market place with Phil who wanted to (guess what?) check out the vinyl stalls. I gave myself a constraint, which was all my shots had to have an element of red in them.
on the way back to the car we turn off King Street into Fowler Street and at the corner is Ladbrokes with The Criterion pub/restaurant above it. Built in the 1860s, the building was designed to look like opulent London restaurant The Criterion Grill. It was closed down in 2000 but in 2018 a chap bought it and restored it to its former glory, many of the original features have been salvaged including the original clock from the 1800’s. So it’s up and running again. Must try it out!
That’s it for this Friday but stay tooned!
all pictures taken with my contax aria on Kodak Gold 200 film, and can be embiggened with a click.
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